Conserve Now, Farm Later

These green circles are seen everywhere across Kansas and the other Great Plains states. Irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer is sprayed on the fields. This region feeds the United States and other nations with corn, soybeans and other crops.

Why It Matters

About 30% of the groundwater used for irrigation in the United States comes from the Ogallala Aquifer. Without this water, the Great Plains states would more resemble a desert than the lush farmland they are now. Water has been collecting in the Ogallala Aquifer for hundreds of thousands of years. As Ice Age glaciers melted, the aquifer filled. Without a good plan and the will to stick with it, this aquifer may be depleted within decades.

Show What You Know

With the links below, learn more about the Ogallala Aquifer. Then answer the following questions.